Calendar Review
Train Show
11/3/2012 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Southern Pacific Depot
California
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 3-4
Operating model trains on two museum quality displays, numerous historic artifacts, and a preserved historic depot all provide focal points for the Train Show and Open House at the Santa Clara Depot. The fall program is one of two fundraisers held each year to support the operations at the Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History. The museum is housed in the former Southern Pacific Depot, built in 1863, adjacent to the Caltrain tracks. The train show is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and a donation of $5 per adult over the age of 18 is requested at the entrance.
A second feature that weekend is a peek inside a historic rail car. The former business car from the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Co. was placed into service in December 1912, making it 100 years old. Inside the 83-foot-long car, viewers can observe the observation room, secretary’s room, small kitchen, crew’s quarters, dining room, and the superintendent’s and assistant superintendent’s private state rooms. The South Bay Historical Railroad Society is restoring the car to its 1922 appearance. The railcar will be open to visitors between 12:30 and 4 pm each day.
Also open to visitors from 1-3 p.m. each day will be the historic railroad tower, opened by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1927. The tower and its interlocking switch controls handled rail traffic at the junction of SP’s Mulford Line and the San Francisco Peninsula Line, as well as the railroad’s multi-tracked freight yard.
The model railroads inside the Santa Clara Depot – one HO-scale (1:87) and one N-scale (1:160) --demonstrate western railroading. Each layout, set in timeframes ending about 1970, illustrate structures, motor vehicles, businesses, and industries typical of the era. Many of the operating trains are typical of that era too, although many members operate trains of more contemporary eras.
The Company Store will be open, where visitors can purchase a variety of used model railroad locomotives and rolling stock, books, videos and DVDs about real and model railroading, and various artifacts. For more information, call
1-408-243-3969 or visit the website sbhrs.org.